Dan Skelton: 'John Hales was the ultimate believer - he had an extraordinary life that was full of love for his horses'

The Skelton family and the Hales family have been linked across the showjumping and racing arenas for decades. Dan Skelton, trainer of Cheltenham Festival winner Protektorat, and also son of showjumping legend Nick, pays tribute to John Hales's immense contribution across the equestrian landscape

• 'Racing will miss him, he was a great man' - Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls lead tributes to owner John Hales after death aged 85 
• From a cuddly toy maker to big jumps owner - racing has lost a great character in John Hales 

I’ve known John since I was 12 or 13, long before his days in racing, when he got involved with the showjumpers through his daughter Lisa. He showed great interest in wanting to have good showjumpers with my dad and he ended up having Arko III with us.

Arko was the leading Nations Cup horse twice and went to the 2004 Athens Olympics with Dad, where they were leading until the final round. They looked set for a medal and then it all went wrong, but John took that like John can; he was a sportsman, he understood it. 

John supported people and instilled in them the belief they should do their best and be competitive. He was incredible at that. He never interfered and he didn’t push you, but he always wanted you to believe it was possible and that he wanted to give it a go. He’d be brave.

Nick Skelton riding the Hales family's Arko III during the 2004 Olympic Games in AthensCredit: JOCHEN LUEBKE

My father's comeback – getting back riding after breaking his neck – was down to the fact that John had bought Arko and he wanted to see Dad on him. John’s part in Dad coming back and ultimately ending the way it did [with individual Olympic Gold in Rio], while I wouldn’t say it stemmed exclusively from having Arko to ride, it was massive. Dad wouldn’t have been in the position he was without that happening.

John was president of British Show Jumping from 2005-08 and his family’s support of all horse sports, not just racing, was massive. He will be a big loss across the board.

He was an absolutely fantastic man who always encouraged me and my brother Harry, while Bridget [Andrews, Harry's wife] rode for him as well, winning a Grade 2 at Aintree on Protektorat. He had just recently sent a broodmare to the stud, supporting our family yet again. He’s just always been there, an absolutely unwavering supporter and promoter.

John Hales is overcome with emotion as he embraces Harry Skelton after Politologue's victory in the 2020 Champion ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

When I said I was going to start training it was an absolute given, as far as he was concerned, that he was going to send us horses. He empowered Anthony Bromley to buy his horses and then me, Paul Nicholls and Olly Murphy to train them, and for the riders to do their best: Harry, Ruby Walsh, Harry Cobden and others. 

John was the ultimate believer and I’ve never met anybody who believed it was going to happen as much as him. All his dreams came true bar one. He wanted to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup and, who knows, maybe there’s a Gold Cup winner among his squad at the moment.

He had an extraordinary life that, towards the end, was full of his love of horses and competition. It was one of his all-time pleasures. 

He was there the other day when Protektorat won. I wasn’t at Cheltenham last week but he had lunch with Paul [Nicholls]. Even right to the end, I spoke to him on Wednesday and he couldn’t wait for Protektorat to go to Cheltenham. He was convinced he was going to win again.

Bridget Andrews with John Hales after riding Protektorat to victory in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at AintreeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He’s got a lovely young horse called Live Conti, who makes his debut in a couple of weeks. He was really looking forward to him.

John genuinely believed he was going to be around forever and that it was only a matter of time before he won that Gold Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson used to say we never lost a match, we just ran out of time. John Hales just ran out of time to win that Gold Cup.

He was a phenomenal man and a great supporter, who never ever placed blame at the doors of others. He just wanted people to do well and wanted to see the best in everything. 

John Hales:

'Racing will miss him, he was a great man' - Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls lead tributes to owner John Hales after death aged 85 

Obituary: From a cuddly toy maker to big jumps owner - racing has lost a great character in John Hales